Journal lubricator



. March 4, 1958 E. c. .JEFFERS ET AL 2,825,609

JOURNAL LUBRICATORl Filed July 2o, 1956 llnited States Patent O JOURNALLUBRICATOR Edward C. Jeffers, Park Ridge, and Martin C. Jelfers,Wilmette, Ill.

Application Juiy 20, 1956, Serial No. 599,096

9 Ciaims. (Cl. 308-88) The present invention relates to journallubricating devices, :and in particular to such devices having novelmeans for properly locating and anchoring the elements thereof in thejournal box.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved journal lubricator which is readily installed in a journal boxand, when installed, properly locates the elements thereof with respectto the journal, and insures an even distribution and application oflubricant from the well to the journal under all operating conditions.

Another object is to provide a novel journal lubricator wherein thelubricating element resists disintegration under operating temperaturesup to 400 F. and prevents journal seizure in temperatures as low as 60F.

Another object is to provide a, novel journal lubricator comprising anassembly of a lubricating pad in contact with the journal, a llet sealand lubricator, and a journal box lid seal, with each element properlylocated with respect to the journal box and the journal.

Another object is to provide a novel journal lubricator which may beanchored in the journal box by a single bolt.

A further object is to provide a novel journal lubricator which, whenanchored, firmly presses a fillet seal and lubricator against the innerwall of the journal box and holds a lid seal in position to be engagedby the journal box lid.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved journal lubricatorassembly which has a visual oil level gauge incorporated therein.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel journallubricator which is easily removed for inspection and repositioning orreplacement, if necessary.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a journal box and journal with portionsof the box cut away to show the journal lubricator of the presentinvention properly installed;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the journal box and lubricator,but showing the pad of the lubricator which is in engagement with thejournal in full lines, and may be considered as taken along'the line 2-2of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section and may be considered :as being takensubstantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2,looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the mounting of thejournal box lid seal; and

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the connection between themounting strip and the iillet seal and lubricator.

In the drawing, the reference character indicates in its entirety thenovel journal lubricator of the present invention, which is located in ajournal box 12, through ice the inner walls 14 and 16 yof which extendsa journal 18. The journal box has the conventional access opening at itsouter side or face, which is closed by a conventional spring biased lid22.

The journal lubricator 10 includes a journal lubricating section 24, allet seal and lubricating section 26, and a lid seal section 28.

The journal lubricating section 24 comprises a sheet of porous fibrousmaterial 30 which preferably is a silicone impregnated wool felt. Othermaterials may be used, but it has been found that the siliconeimpregnated felt is especially desirable inasmuch as it reduces thefriction between the felt and the journal, effecting a reduction inoperating temperatures and an increase in the resistance of the felt todisintegration from heat up to approximately 400 F., and precludes thepossibility of journal seizure in temperatures as low as 60 F.V The feltsheet is folded or bent to provide a base segment 32, and a journallubricating segment 34 which extends upwardly and at an acute angle fromthe base section 32,

' the latter being positioned in the lubricant well 31 of the journalbox. At its upper and outer end the lubricating section 34 is bent backupon itself to provide a spacing pad, or the like, 36, the function ofwhich will become apparent hereinafter. t

The journal lubricating segment 34 is biased rmly into contact with thejournal 18 by a plurality of resilient biasing members 38. Each of themembers 38 includes a basev leg 40, a lubricator segment leg 42, and anacute angle member 44. The base leg 40 is secured to the angle 44` by apair of rivets 46, and the leg 42 is similarly secured to the angle by apair of rivets 4S. The angle is relatively rigid as compared with thelegs 40 and 42, which may be made of spring steel. Each leg 46 issecured to the base segment by a single heavy wire clip or staple 50,and similarly each leg 42 is secured to the spacer pad 36 of thelubricator segment 34 by a single Wire clip or staple 52. In this mannerthe members 38 are secured, respectively, to the base segment 32 and tothe lubricator segment 34, and tend to separate them, thereby rmlypressing the lubricator segment 34 against the journal 18. The spacerpad 36 insures that the journal is contacted over a. substantial portionof its circumference as shown in Fig. 3.

Underlying the legs 40, and overlying the base segment segment 34 towardthe front or open end of the journalI box 12. The strip 54 is secured asby rivets 56 to each leg 40 of the resilient elements 38, there beingtwo or' the rivets S6 for each leg 40, to prevent angular offsetting ofthe strip and the leg 40. At its forward end the mounting strip 40overlies a T-shaped projection 58 of the base segment 32. At its innerend the strip S4 is secured by the rivets 40, not only to the inner ofthe legs 40, but also to an angle 58 having an upstanding llange 60which is secured by pairs of rivets 6.2 to di agonally extending fingers64, the angle between the fingers being approximately The lletlubricator and seal 26 comprises an arcuate pad 66 formed of the samematerial as the sheet 30. The pad 66 is faced at the side thereof whichbears against the journal box wall 16 and against the fillet 68 betweenthe journal 18 and the axle shoulder 70, with a wear resisting sheet 72made of a material not attacked by lubricant, such as neoprene. The pad66 is secured to the` flange 60 and to the outer ends of the fingers 64by a pluguard and oil seal `75 which, .together with. the fillet sealplurality of resilient biasing` 3 and lubricator 26, prevents the escapeof lubricant from the well 31 of the journal box and the entry of dirtalong the shoulder portion 70 of the axle.

The T-shaped projection 58 from the base segment 32 of the sheet 30preferably is integral with the sheet but, it desired, may be madeseparate. It has at its outer end a cross pad 76 which, when thelubricator is properly positioned in the journal box, extends the widthof the journal box as seen in Fig. 4, and its outer lip, as seen in Fig.2, is at the edge of the inclined front well wall 27 to form the lidseal 2S. A transverse strip 78 overlies the cross bar pad 76 and issecured thereto by a plurality of rivets 80 and by a heavy wire clip 82.The wire clip S2 also passes through, and fastens to the pad portion 76,a relatively heavy gauge metal anchor plate 84 which is secured to thestrip 78 by rivets S6, and to the outer end of the mounting strip 54 bya plurality of rivets 88. The plate 84 is substantially stiffer than thespring steel strips 54 and 78 so as to resist bending.

The anchor plate S4 has a medial longitudinal slot 90 formed thereinwhich coincides with a similar slot 92 in the cross bar pad 76. Theseslots afford longitudinal adjustment of the lubricator 10 andaccommodate a carriage bolt 94 which is passed therethrough and througha specially drilled hole 96 in the journal box wall 77 adjacent theopening 20. The carriage bolt also passes through a synthetic lubricantresisting rubber washer 97 to assist in sealing the drilled hole in thejournal wall 77 against the leakage of lubricant.

At the inside of the journal box the bolt 94 is fitted with a temperedspring steel periphery dome washer 100, and at its outer end is fittedwith a lock nut 98. When the nut is drawn tight small projecting teetharound the hole in the dome washer 100 will embed themselves inunderside of the the bolt head, and the dome washer lil() in cooperationwith the tightened lock nut 9S will exert a back pressure on the anchorplate 84 so that there is a lirm and tight anchorage of the lubricatingdevice 10, and no amount of car vibration can loosen its mounting in thejournal box.

It should be noted that when the journal lubricator 10 is properlyanchored, the base segment 32 is in the well 31 of the journal box 12,the fillet lubricator and seal 26 is pressed firmly against the wall 16,and the journal lubricator 34 contacts the journal 18.

A visual lubricant level gauge 102 is secured as by a heavy wire clip orstaple 104, to the stern portion of the T-shaped projection 53 at theouter end of the base segment 32. This visual oil level gauge 102preferably is ma'de of the same material as the sheet 30. lt is desiredthat the oil in the journal box will be maintained at a level just tocover the visual gauge, although, with the journal lubricating device ofthe present invention, if there is any free oil in the journal box itwill -be fed to the journal lubricating segment 34 and thus insurepositive lubrication of the journal under all conditions of operation.

The synthetic rubber washer 97 has an additional use. Should it ever benecessary to remove the lubricating device 10 and not replace it withone of the same design, the bolt 94 is secured in the hole 96 in thewell wall 77 with the washer 97 between the bolt head and wall to sealthe hole and prevent leakage of oil from the well 31.

The journal lubricating device of the present invention is installed ina journal box by compressing the journal lubn'cating segment 34 towardthe base segment 32 so that the two can be slipped under the outerflange on the journal 18. The tillet seal 26 is tipped under the flangeand the journal lubricator assembly 10 is then, with a steady pressure,forced under the flange until the fillet seal comes to rest against thewall 16. In this position the lubricator segment 34 will underlie thejournal 18 and its outer edge will be within the flange at the outer endof the journal. The lid seal pad 76 will have its outer edge at theouter edge of the lip forming the bottom of the well, and the hole 96,if it has not already been drilled in the journal box well wall 77,should be drilled at this time. The carriage bolt 94 fitted with thedome washer 100 and sealing Washer 97 is inserted through the hole 96and, when an adequate pressure has been applied to the seal 26, the locknut 98 is tightened. The flexible spring metal mounting strip 54 placespressure upon the fillet lubricator and seal 26 to seat the latter (Fig.2), thereby to prevent oil from splashing out of the inner end of thejournal box.

The lubricating device 10 may be readily removed from the journal box byremoving the carriage bolt 94, depressing the journal lubricator segment34 so as to clear the flange, and pulling the end of the lubricator padso that the assembly slides under the flange on the journal. Thelubricating device 10 may be relocated in the journal box or replaced ashereinbefore described.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the objectives which areclaimed for the present invention are attained by this structure.

While a preferred embodiment of the journal lubricating deviceconstituting this invention has been shown and described, it will beapparent that numerous modifications and variations thereof may be madewithout departing from the underlying principles of the invention. It istherefore desired, by the following claims, to include within the scopeof the invention all such variations and modifications by whichsubstantially the results of the invention may be obtained through theuse of substantially the same or equivalent means.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by United StatesLetters Patent is:

l. A journal lubricating device adapted to be mounted in a journal boxthrough an end wall of which extends a journal and which has a wellbelow the journal for holding a liquid lubricant, an access openingthrough the end wall, and a lid closing the opening, comprising, a sheetof porous fibrous material having a base segment locatable in thejournal well and an angularly upwardly extending lubricating segmentpressable against the journal, a journal box lid seal connected to andintegral with said base segment, mounting means overlying said basesegment and said lid seal, means adapted to secure said mounting meanswhere it overlies said lid seal to the journal box thereby to anchor thelubricating device in journal lubricating and lid sealing position, andresilient means secured to said mounting means and adapted to bias saidlubricating segment against the journal.

2. A journal lubricating device adapted to be mounted in a journal boxthrough an end wall of which extends a journal and which has a wellbelow the journal for holding a liquid lubricant, an access openingopposite the end wall, and a lid closing the opening, comprising, asheet of porous fibrous material folded to provide a base segmentlocatable in the journal well and a lubricating segment pressableagainst the journal, a T-shaped journal box lid seal portion integralwith said base portion and having a cross pad against which the journalbox lid is adapted to seal, a resilient mounting means overlying saidbase segment and said lid seal portion, and means adapted to secure saidmounting means where it overlies said lid seal portion to the journalbox thereby to anchor the lubricating device in journal lubricating andlid sealing position.

3. A journal lubricating device adapted to be mounted in a journal boxthrough an end wall of which extends a journal and which has a wellbelow the journal for hold ing a liquid lubricant, an access openingopposite the end wall, and a lid closing the opening, comprising a sheetof porous fibrous material having a base segment locatable in thejournal well and an angularly upwardly extending lubricating segmentpressable against the J'Oumal, a plurality of angular resilient biasingelements each having a `leg attached to said base segment and a legattached to said lubricating segment for urging said lubricating segmentfirmly against the journal, a mounting strip overlying said base segmentand positioned to extend longitudinally of the journal and thereunder,said base legs of said resilient biasing elements being secured to saidmounting strip, a journal lid seal integral with said base segment,means securing said journal lid seal to the outer end of said mountingstrip, and means adapted to secure said mounting strip adjacent itsouter end and said lid seal to the front wall of the journal box so vasproperly to locate and anchor the lubricating device in the journal box.

4. A journal lubricating device adapted to be mounted in a journal boxthrough an end wall of which extends a journal which has a well belowthe journal for holding a liquid lubricant, an access opening oppositethe end wall, and a lid closing the opening, comprising a sheet ofporous fibrous material having a base segment locatable in the journalwell and an angularly upwardly extending lubricating segment pressableagainst the journal, a plur-ality of angular resilient biasing elementseach having a leg attached to said base segment and a leg attached tosaid lubricating segment for urging said lubricating segment firmlyagainst the journal, a mounting strip overlying said base segment andsecured to said base legs of said resilient biasing elements, a journallid seal integral with said base segment, said lid seal and saidmounting member having conciding slots formed therein and extendinglongitudinally of said mounting strip, and bolt means passing throughsaid slots and adapted to secure said mounting strip and said lid sealto the front wall of the journal box so as properly to locate and anchorthe lubricating device in the journal box.

5. A journal lubricating device adapted to be mounted in a journal b-oxthrough an end wall of which extends a journal which has a well belowthe journal for holding a liquid lubricant, an access opening oppositethe end wall, and a lid closing the opening, comprising a sheet ofporous fibrous material having a base segment locatable in the journalwell and an angularly upwardly extending lubricating segment pressableagainst the journal, a plurality of angular resilient biasing elementsattached to said base segment and to said lubricating segment for urgingsaid lubricating segment firmly against the journal, a mounting stripoverlying said base segment and secured to said resilient biasingelements, a journal lid seal made of porous fibrous material, saidmounting strip including a slotted anchor plate overlying said lid seal,said lid seal being slotted to coincide with said anchor plate slot, andbolt means passing through said slots and adapted to secure saidmounting strip and said lid seal to the front wall of the journal box soas properly to locate and anchor the lubricating device in the journalbox.

6. A journal lubricating device adapted to be mounted in a journal boxthrough an end wall of which extends a journal which has a well belowthe journal for holding a liquid lubricant, an access opening oppositethe end wall, and a lid closing the opening, comprising a sheet ofporous fibrous material having a base segment locatable in the journalwell and an angularly upwardly extending lubricating segment pressableagainst the journal, a plurality of angular resilient biasing elementsattached to said base segment and to said lubricating segment for urgingsaid lubricating segment firmly against the journal, a resilientmounting strip overlying said base segment and secured to said resilientbiasing elements, a fillet seal and lubricator secured to the inner endof said mounting strip, and means Iadapted to secure said mounting stripadjacent its youter end to the front wall of the journal box so asproperly to locate and anchor the lubricating device in the journal boxand to hold said fillet seal and lubricator firmly against the innerface of the end wall of the journal box.

7. A journal lubricating device adapted to be mounted in a journal boxthrough an end wall of which extends a journal which has a well belowthe journal for holding a liquid lubricant, an access opening oppositethe end wall, and a lid closing the opening, comprising a sheet ofporous fibrous material having a base segment locatable in the journalwell and an angularly upwardly extending lubricating segment pressableagainst the journal, a plurality of angular resilient biasing elementsattached to said base segment and to said lubricating segment for urgingsaid lubricating segment firmly against the journal, a resilientmounting strip overlying said base segment and secured to said resilientbiasing elements, a fillet seal and lubricator having a lubricantresistant facing, means securing said fillet seal and lubricator to theinner end of said mounting strip, and means adapted to secure saidmounting strip adjacent its outer end to the front wall of the journalbox so as properly to locate and anchor the lubricating device in thejournal box and to hold said fillet seal and lubricator with itslubricant resistant facing firmly against the inner face of the end wallof the journal box.

8. A journal lubricating device adapted to be mounted in a journal boxthrough an end wall of which extends a journal which has a well belowthe journal for holding a liquid lubricant, an access opening oppositethe end wall, and a lid closing the opening, comprising a sheet ofporous fibrous material having a base segment locatable in the journalWell and an angularly upwardly extending lubricating segment pressableagainst the journal, a plurality of angular resilient biasing elementseach having a leg attached to said base segment and a leg attached tosaid lubricating segment for urging said lubricating segment firmlyagainst the journal, a resilient mounting strip overlying said basesegment and positioned to extend longitudinally of the journal andthereunder, said base legs of said resilient biasing elements beingsecured to said mounting strip, a fillet seal and lubricator, meanssecuring said fillet seal and lubricator to the inner end of saidmounting strip, a journal lid seal, means securing said journal lid sealto the outer end of said mounting strip, and means adapted to securesaid mounting strip adjacent its outer end to the front wall of thejournal box so as properly to locate and anchor the lubricating deviceof the journal box and to hold said fillet seal and lubricator firmlyagainst the inner face of the end wall of the journal box.

9. A journal lubricating device adapted to be mounted in a journal boxthrough an end wall of which extends a journal which has a well belowthe journal for holding a liquid lubricant, an access opening oppositethe end wall, and a lid closing the opening, the well having an inclinedaccess wall terminating at the front opening, comprising a sheet ofporous fibrous material folded to provide a base segment locatable inthe journal Well and a lubricating segment pressable against thejournal, a. T-shaped journal box lid seal portion adapted at leastpartially to overlie the inner face of the inclined well wall and havinga cross pad against which the journal box lid is adapted to seal, aresilient mounting strip overlying said base segment and said lid sealportion, and a. single bolt fitted with lock and sealing washers and alock nut adapted to pass through coinciding openings in the inclinedwell wall and said mounting strip and lid seal portion securely toanchor the lubricating device in the journal box.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 649,671McEntee May 15, 1900 2,386,121 Jeffers et al. Oct. 2, 1945 2,449,510Robertson Sept. 14, 1948 2,456,496 Ford et al. Dec, 14, 1948

